I would have a picture here of her, but she hated having her picture taken…

My Aunt Anne, who lived in my hometown for decades–always no more than a 5 minute drive from my house/school– passed on this Wednesday, about 5pm. She was 93. She had lived a long life. From her, I received many gifts… birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, you-name-it cards (along with a sweet $5-$10-$20 dollar bill for each card).

She was quiet and sweet, and supportive…always feeding the three of us with food…the good stuff and the sugary kind. As teens, we mowed her lawns, took the old paint off her windows and fences, repainted them…and she paid us WAY more than we deserved for the (lacking) quality of work. But she was Aunt Anne.

Later, she listened politely to my boisterously shared political perspectives throughout my cocky 20’s. Her disposition was always friendly and kind.

She never got married–always hung out and just watched. Watched as I returned from Japan, from Colorado, with my wife, with my son…

Then, as we both got older, I just chose to be silent, and observe her.

Around 2004, we moved her out of her house to residential care. She was slowing down.

I hope everyone has a chance to have an Aunt Anne in their lives.

Ok, I found one…